System for setting up office and/or working environment

• US 5,638,759 A
• Filed: 03/15/1996
• Issued: 06/17/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 10/23/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Pillow Kingdom, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Jurgen Klugkist
• Inventors: Klugkist, Jurgen
• Primary Examiner(s): Chen, Jose V.
• Application Number:
  US08/616,404
• Time in Patent Office: 459 Days
• Field of Search: 108/50, 108/144, 108/23, 312/223.3, 312/223.5, 312/223.6
• US Class Current: 108/50.02
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 13/003 Connecting table tops to underframes connecting furniture tubing to non-tubular parts F16B12/42
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 13/06 of metal A47B13/023 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 21/06 characterised by means for holding, fastening or concealing cables
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 2200/0013 Desks with central bearing beams
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 2200/0027 Desks with I-shaped leg

Abstract

A system for setting up a working environment includes base elements of profile bars adapted to stand on a floor surface and pillar elements of profile bars, at least one incorporating a cable duct. The pillar elements are mounted on the base elements. A transverse connecting element is a profile bar and incorporates a cable duct and interconnects the pillar elements at a spacing from each other. Carrier elements of profile bars are mounted to the pillar elements. The pillar elements have substantially U-shaped profile portions including parallel side wall parts, and projections which extend in the longitudinal direction from the side wall parts and face towards each other. Heightwise adjustment is made by a holder having a holding portion introduced into the profile portions of the pillar elements and movable therein for heightwise adjustment. The holding portion includes slide elements and fixing elements for holding the slide elements and the holding portion in releasable fixed contact with longitudinal projections on the profile portions by the fixing elements.

Claims

1. A system for setting up a working environment comprising:

a base element;

a pillar element having a cable duct and adapted to be supported on said base element;

a transverse connecting element with cable duct; and

a carrier element with mounting means for a working surface,

wherein

said elements are made from profile bars of aluminum material,

said pillar element includes a means for heightwise adjust, and has at least one at least substantially U-shaped profile portion includes at least substantially mutually parallel side wall parts, said profile portion further including first and second projections which extend in the longitudinal direction thereof from the mutually facing surfaces of said side wall parts and face towards each other,

said means for heightwise adjustment includes a holder having at least one holding portion adapted to be introduced into said profile portion of said pillar element and adapted to be movable therein for said heightwise adjustment, and a support means on said holder for said carrier element,

said holding portion includes slide elements and fixing means for holding said slide elements and said holding portion in releasably fixable contact with said projections on said profile portion.

2. A system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said holding portion includes a tubular portion which is adapted to be inserted into said profile portion adjustably in respect of height therein.

3. A system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said holding portion and said slide elements can be brought into selective sliding contact with said projections by said fixing means.

4. A system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said holding portion includes a tubular portion which is adapted to be inserted into said profile portion adjustably in respect of height therein.

5. A system as set forth in claim 1 wherein said holding portion and said slide elements can be brought into selective sliding contacting with said projections by said fixing means.

6. A system as set forth in claim 1 wherein said holder is provided with plate portions for connection to a said transverse connecting element.

7. A system as set forth in claim 1 including a further pillar element in the form of an at least substantially round pillar having a first end and a second end, and further including fixing means at the first and second ends of said further pillar element for fixing a base member and a working surface respectively.

8. A system as set forth in claim 7 wherein said further pillar element has an opening which extends in the longitudinal direction thereof, and further including a cover means for closing said opening, at least one of said cover means and said further pillar element having an aperture for passing a cable therethrough.

9. A system as set forth in claim 8 and further including an elastic body wherein said further pillar element has a receiving means extending in its longitudinal direction for accommodating said elastic body and said elastic body is adapted to produce a holding force for a latching connection between said further pillar element and said cover means.

10. A system as set forth in claim 8 wherein said cover means is transparent and including lighting means disposed within said further pillar element.

11. A system as set forth in claim 1 wherein said pillar element has an opening which extends in the longitudinal direction thereof, and further including a cover means and said pillar element having an aperture for passing a cable therethrough.

12. A system as set forth in claim 11 and further including an elastic body, wherein said pillar element has a receiving means extending in its longitudinal direction for accommodating said elastic body and said elastic body is adapted to produce a holding force for a latching connection between said pillar element and said cover means.

13. A system as set forth in claim 11 wherein said cover means is transparent and including lighting means disposed within said pillar element.

14. A system as set forth in claim 1 wherein said transverse connecting element has an opening, a transparent cover means for said opening, and a lighting means disposed behind said opening.

15. A system as set forth in claim 1 and further including an additional pillar element which is at least substantially octangular in cross-section with a lateral opening in the longitudinal direction and with a recess arranged behind said opening for receiving a sliding element as part of said heightwise adjustment means.

16. A system as set forth in claim 15 including a frame means for holding a said working surface having lateral openings for substantially positively locking contact of a portion of said additional pillar element.

17. A system for setting up a working environment including:

first and second base elements comprising profile bars of aluminum material and adapted to stand on a floor surface;

first and second pillar elements comprising profile bars of aluminum material and at least one of said pillar elements incorporating a cable duct and said pillar elements being adapted to be mounted on respective ones of said base elements in upstanding relationship thereon;

a transverse connecting element comprising a profile bar of aluminum material and incorporating a cable duct and adapted to interconnect said first and second pillar elements at a spacing from each other;

first and second carrier elements comprising profile bars of aluminum material and adapted to be mounted to respective ones of said pillar elements;

mounting means on said carrier elements for mounting a working surface means thereon; and

means operatively associated with said pillar elements for heightwise adjustment;

wherein at least one pillar element has at least one at least substantially U-shaped profile portion including at least substantially mutually parallel side wall parts, said profile portion further includes first and second projections which extend in the longitudinal direction thereof from the mutually facing surfaces of said side wall parts and face towards each other, said means for heightwise adjustment includes a holder having at least one holding portion adapted to be introduced into said profile portion of said pillar element and adapted to be movable therein for said heightwise adjustment, and a support means on said holder for said carrier element and said holding portion includes slide elements and fixing means for holding said slide elements and said holding portion in releasable fixable contact with said longitudinal projections on said profile portions.

18. A system as set forth in claim 17 wherein each said pillar element has at least one at least substantially U-shaped profile portion forming a part of said pillar element and defining a cavity therein, and wherein said means for heightwise adjustment includes a holder having at least one holding portion adapted to be introduced into said cavity and adapted to be movable therein in the longitudinal direction of the respective pillar element for providing for said heightwise adjustment.